UNICEF to ensure employment for all youth by 2030

A new partnership - Generation Unlimited - to get every young person into quality education, training or employment by 2030, was launched yesterday at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

Generation Unlimited will tackle the global education and training crisis currently holding back millions of young people and threatening progress and stability.

Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director said by launching the partnership, they are calling for cutting-edge solutions and new ideas to get every young person in school, training or age-appropriate employment by 2030.

"We are asking governments, businesses, foundations, academia, non-profits, communities and innovators to help us. And we are co-creating these solutions with young people in the lead. Supporting them as — together — we design and scale-up solutions that address these needs. Today, we're announcing a first round of solutions that can be scaled-up," she said at the launch.

The partnership is worldwide, from a program in Argentina that connects remote, rural students with teachers via digital technology, to a program in Bangladesh that is training tens of thousands of young people in trades like tailoring, motorcycle repair and mobile-phone servicing, to a job-shadowing program in South Africa connecting young women with mentors in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math. 

"A massive generation is about to inherit our world. Please help us leave a legacy of hope and opportunities for them. And most importantly, with them," she told the meeting.